Business Jet Traveler

Aircraft services and systems integrator Emteq has received a contract from Hawker Beechcraft for installation of the New Berlin, Wis. firm's new FAA-certified seat heaters in the Wichita aircraft manufacturer's King Airs. Plans exist to introduce similar seat heaters into Hawker business jets, as well as Beechcraft Baron and Bonanza models, according to Emteq president Jerry Jendusa.

Basketball fans should circle July 15 on their calendars. That's when the WNBA All-Star game returns to the nation's capital. The game, the eighth in the league's 11-year history, pits some of the best and most popular players of the Eastern Conference against those in the Western Conference.

The Federal Communications Commission, still concerned about whether cellphone calls by aircraft passengers would interfere with the ground-based cell system, has dropped a longstanding proposal to relax the current ban. But this may not be the end of the story.

At a dinner party recently, the subject turned to private jets and someone asked, "If you could have any jet, which would you pick?" Someone else blurted out, "an F-16," and everyone laughed. If you think about it, an F-16 might well give you a decided advantage over business rivals, but it would likely also raise a few concerns.

Row 44, a Los Angeles company, has introduced a broadband Internet service that it says will allow air travelers in-flight to use their own Wi-Fi-compatible devices. The service will operate over existing high-capacity satellite systems.

Shoppers at Sam's Club, the warehouse chain owned by Wal-Mart, tend to load up their carts with bargain-priced consumables like potato chips and toilet paper as well as flat-panel TVs and computers. Recently, though, one buyer made a somewhat larger purchase from the club: a Cessna Citation Mustang jet.

Brazilian manufacturer Embraer is evaluating one or two "mid-light" and "mid-size" jets to fill the market gap between its Phenom 300 and Legacy 600. However, a company source said an official announcement isn't likely before fall.

What you'll pay for air charter varies not only by aircraft but by region. Here are the average per-hour rates for popular aircraft nationally and in the North Central U.S., now and a year ago. Look for price data for other parts of the country in future issues.